stecker



A. J. STECKER, FAN CONSTRUCTION. I APPLICATION FIL ED MAY 21. 19!?- Patented Dec. 23, 1919 UNITED ALERED J. sTEcKER, or DETRorT, MICHIGAN, ssIoNoR TO FRED wARDELL, I DETROIT, IcHIeAN.

' r FAN coNsTRUoTIon'If Specification-of Letters Patent- Patented'Dc, 23,1919,

Application filed May 21,1917. SeriaINo. 169,856.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. STEOKER, a citizen of theUnited States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented cer.

tainnew and useful Improvements in Fan- Constructions, of which the following is a specification, reference belng had therelnto the accompanying drawings.

.. k and refers more particularly to a new and improved fan construction adapted for use in suction devices such as vacuum cleaners or the like, although the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the par "ticular'use mentioned.

Among the objects of the invention are to provide a fan of the character above referred to which can be economically manufactured,

- preferably in general from stamped sheetmetal, the fan blades being formed from a material such as tempered spring metal which will spring back into place an equal amount so that the balance of the fan wheel will be maintained; to provide-a construction whichwhen assembled will have great.

rigidity and in which tWo or more of the fan blades are formed withan integral con- 7 necting web; to so construct and arrange the parts that the securingdevices for holding the device in position also interlock with the blades to reinforce the fan construction as an entity; and in general to provide a new I Fig. 5 is a plan view of the stamping which is bent to form a ir of fan blades.

Describing in detail t eparticular con-.

struction shown the drawings, A designates the fan which comprises a plurality of blades B, B, (l, C", D and D which are secured to a central bearing or hub member This invention relates to fan constructions Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of a fan;

E. These blades are preferablyformed from stamped metal and constructed in pairs such as B and B connected byan integral web portion F.-' These web portions F, F and F are preferably formed with-fiat faces G, G and G? which bear against corresponding flat surfacesor faces H, H and H formed oii the outer surfaceof the hub member.

While the bearing or hub member E could be provided with any desired number of bearing faces according as a greater or lesser number of fan bladesawere desired, I have illustrated in the drawing a construction in which the hub member is hexagonal in shape so as to have faces forming spacers between the faces H, H and H Thus when the fan blades B, B, C, G, D and D are secured in position they will each be spaced substan tially the same distance apart.

The invention also resides in the novel prises a plate K which has its periphery ber E'. In. detail the securing means comnotched at L, L, L etc. to receive in interlocking relation shoulders M,-M, M etc.,

formed in the blade members B, B, C, C,

D and D. Theiweb portions F, F and F are also provided with lugs N, N and N 'which extend through, the hexagonal aperture K in the plate K and between the surfaces H, H and H and the portion of the plate surrounding the opening or aperture K. For locking the plate from movement ofi the end of the hearing or hub-member E, the metal "of the portion projecting through the aperture K is pe'ened down in-' termediate the projecting lugs N, N and N At the opposite end the hub member E is provided with a circular projection P over which there extends acap Q. r This cap 'is provided with a plurality of flanges R, R

portions F, F- and F after which the metal ofthe projecting portion P is turned down and R which are bent down over the web to lock the cap on tothe hub. When the j plate K and cap Q, are'secured in position as above described, the various bladesB, B,

C, C, D and D are locked-in rigid relation to the bearing or hub member E. The latter is preferably provided with a circular bore S which slips over the driving shaft and also with a key-way T by means of which the bearing or hub member Ev can be secured.

to the shaft V. Also if desiredthe fan may be provided with a set.:sc'rew WV which is screw-threaded into an opening WV in the bearing or hub E, which set screw can be employed for locking the fan to the shaft.

- *lVhere the fans are driven at high speed,

such as,in suction devices, there is danger of the fans, when sprung, failing to return equally so that an unbalanced condition is produced.

1n the present construction this objection is overcome by forming the fan blades of tempered spring metal. By this arrangement it is possible to obtain fan blades, each of which will maintain its-position,

whereas if cold rolled steel or the like were employed, the inequality in the ability of the metal to return to its original position would result in unequal balancing of the fan.

The present invention therefore contemplates an improved arrangement whereby the fan blades are so tormedas-to avoid the objections above'referredto.

l. The combination with a hub member,

of a plurality of fan blades, a plate having an inter-locking engagement with the fan blades and carried by said hub member, and means on the other end of the hub member for clamping the fan blades in position.

2. The combination with a hub member having a plurality of flat faces, of a plurality of pairs of fan blades, each pair having a web portion, and a common means for clamping the web portions of the blade members against the flat faces of the hub member.

arrangements and combinations of 3. The combination with a hub member having a plurality of fiat faces, ofa plural.-

' ity of pairs of fan blades having web porin position.

at. A fan comprising a hub member, a plurality of pairs of sheet-metal fan blades, the blades of each pair.being connected by an integral web portion, a plate or disk sleeved over the hub member and having notches engaging the fan blades, said web portions of the fan blades having projections extending between the plate or disk and the hub member, and a cap member for locking the blades in position to the hub member.

A fan. comprising a hub member, a plurality of fan blades formed in pairs con,- nected by integral web portions secured to said hub member, and a securing means for said blades comprising a plate mounted upon one end of the hub and bearing against the edges of the fan blades, and a cap mounted upon another end of the hub having'lugs bent at right angles to embrace the webs of the blades.

6. A fan, comprising a hub member, a plurality. of fan'blades formed in pairs connected by integral web portions, and means for securing said bladesto the hub member comprising a disk mounted upon one end of the hub and peripherally notched to engage shoulders of the blades, whereby a fixed angular relation between the blades is established, and a cap mounted upon the other end of the hub having lugs bent at right angles to embrace the webs of the hubs.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ALFRED J. STECKER. 

